Timing of Kiev interview

[Brad and Vika 129]

Before receiving our NOA2, I booked a flight to Kiev on January 2, returning on January 16. What are the chances of scheduling an interview in Kiev in early January? My impression is that the place basically shuts down between New Years Day and Orthodox Christmas (January 7 I think). Thanks in advace for the help.

[payxibka 10,045]

You are correct that many holidays exist during that time period... Obviosuly the number of available interview slots are reduced and everything backs up a bit. I think with the standard VSC-NVC-Kyiv transit times, as well as the backed up Kyiv interview lead time for an interview, you are probably find it tight, unless there is a cancellation that you can take advantage of.

Good luck!

[Brad and Vika 129]

You are correct that many holidays exist during that time period... Obviosuly the number of available interview slots are reduced and everything backs up a bit. I think with the standard VSC-NVC-Kyiv transit times, as well as the backed up Kyiv interview lead time for an interview, you are probably find it tight, unless there is a cancellation that you can take advantage of.

Good luck!

Thanks dude - I hoped you would render an opinion. Not great news, but expected. Oh well....only a couple hundred to change flights.

[nyhazmat 2]

Brad,

Look at my timeline, it is similar, what I did was nicely asked alot, downloaded and sent back the forms and they worked with me. I asked for any slot caused by cancellations. The biggest hit due to holidays was getting her passport back with the visa. I went to Ukraine on Dec 4 of that year without a scheduled interview. They finally acknowledged her paperwork the day I left to go there. She got interviewed a few weeks later. Good luck...

[nyhazmat 2]

Sorry, I forgot that I removed some detail...Our NOA2 was 11/2 and her interview was 12/21, visa in hand at FedEx 12/5 (issued 12/28). I know that this was 2 years ago, but how much could it have changed. It seems that everything else gets better.

[1HappyGuy 45]

Brad,

If you have your NVC number, try writing to the embassy in Kyiv to schedule an appointment as soon as possible after Orthodox Christmas. You just might get lucky.

I would also suggest that you find out if there are any other Ukrainian holidays scheduled in early January. Understand that the embassy will be closed on Martin Luther King Day in January also.

Good luck, if must feel great to be so close.

[payxibka 10,045]

Brad,

If you have your NVC number, try writing to the embassy in Kyiv to schedule an appointment as soon as possible after Orthodox Christmas. You just might get lucky.

I would also suggest that you find out if there are any other Ukrainian holidays scheduled in early January. Understand that the embassy will be closed on Martin Luther King Day in January also.

Good luck, if must feel great to be so close.

Embassy does NOT schedule interviews anymore.... All is done via the call center

[Brad and Vika 129]

Sorry, I forgot that I removed some detail...Our NOA2 was 11/2 and her interview was 12/21, visa in hand at FedEx 12/5 (issued 12/28). I know that this was 2 years ago, but how much could it have changed. It seems that everything else gets better.

I think that you mean interview 11/21, visa issued 11/28? Any way, it does look extremely tight - but there is hope!

[Brad and Vika 129]

Brad,

If you have your NVC number, try writing to the embassy in Kyiv to schedule an appointment as soon as possible after Orthodox Christmas. You just might get lucky.

I would also suggest that you find out if there are any other Ukrainian holidays scheduled in early January. Understand that the embassy will be closed on Martin Luther King Day in January also.

Good luck, if must feel great to be so close.

It does, and I suppose I am sweating the timing without reason. Three years from now, no one (Vika and I least of all) will care about one more trip to Ukraine if I go back in February.

[RyDa 1]

Brad,

If you have your NVC number, try writing to the embassy in Kyiv to schedule an appointment as soon as possible after Orthodox Christmas. You just might get lucky.

I would also suggest that you find out if there are any other Ukrainian holidays scheduled in early January. Understand that the embassy will be closed on Martin Luther King Day in January also.

Good luck, if must feel great to be so close.

This is cute

There is NO Martin Luther King Day in Ukraine. We hardly have any african-american people, so celebrating the B-Day of someone who fought for their rights would be odd. For Ukraine. Don't get me wrong though, great holiday. Very decent occasion.

As for the holiday period. I am registered on one of the Russian/Ukrainian K1-K3 forums, and last year around this time the wait for the inteview wasn't the worst. Like someone said it took a loooong time (well, longer than average) for them to deliver the applicant's passport. The two weeks between Dec 25 and Jan 7 seemed to be a vacation for the embassy staff. And that actually makes sense, it even says on the web site, that all Ukrainian AND American national holidays the embassy is closed.

So Brad, you might get lucky and have the interview before the 16th, but I don't think she will receive the passport on time. If I were you, I would make an appointment ASAP and then re-schedule ur flight, so that you arrive a day or two before the interview.

BTW, we got approved too the other day, so maybe Vika and I happen to have the interview on the same day ;-)

[payxibka 10,045]

This is cute

There is NO Martin Luther King Day in Ukraine. We hardly have any african-american people, so celebrating the B-Day of someone who fought for their rights would be odd. For Ukraine. Don't get me wrong though, great holiday. Very decent occasion.

As for the holiday period. I am registered on one of the Russian/Ukrainian K1-K3 forums, and last year around this time the wait for the inteview wasn't the worst. Like someone said it took a loooong time (well, longer than average) for them to deliver the applicant's passport. The two weeks between Dec 25 and Jan 7 seemed to be a vacation for the embassy staff. And that actually makes sense, it even says on the web site, that all Ukrainian AND American national holidays the embassy is closed.

So Brad, you might get lucky and have the interview before the 16th, but I don't think she will receive the passport on time. If I were you, I would make an appointment ASAP and then re-schedule ur flight, so that you arrive a day or two before the interview.

BTW, we got approved too the other day, so maybe Vika and I happen to have the interview on the same day ;-)

What you fail to understand is that the consulate celebrates BOTH countries holidays... Since MLK is a US holiday, it will be recognized

[RyDa 1]

This is cute

There is NO Martin Luther King Day in Ukraine. We hardly have any african-american people, so celebrating the B-Day of someone who fought for their rights would be odd. For Ukraine. Don't get me wrong though, great holiday. Very decent occasion.

As for the holiday period. I am registered on one of the Russian/Ukrainian K1-K3 forums, and last year around this time the wait for the inteview wasn't the worst. Like someone said it took a loooong time (well, longer than average) for them to deliver the applicant's passport. The two weeks between Dec 25 and Jan 7 seemed to be a vacation for the embassy staff. And that actually makes sense, it even says on the web site, that all Ukrainian AND American national holidays the embassy is closed.

So Brad, you might get lucky and have the interview before the 16th, but I don't think she will receive the passport on time. If I were you, I would make an appointment ASAP and then re-schedule ur flight, so that you arrive a day or two before the interview.

BTW, we got approved too the other day, so maybe Vika and I happen to have the interview on the same day ;-)

What you fail to understand is that the consulate celebrates BOTH countries holidays... Since MLK is a US holiday, it will be recognized

You ARE right. My bad. I've condradicted myself saying they celebrate both and saying we don't have MLK's day. Lol

[Brad and Vika 129]

This is cute

There is NO Martin Luther King Day in Ukraine. We hardly have any african-american people, so celebrating the B-Day of someone who fought for their rights would be odd. For Ukraine. Don't get me wrong though, great holiday. Very decent occasion.

As for the holiday period. I am registered on one of the Russian/Ukrainian K1-K3 forums, and last year around this time the wait for the inteview wasn't the worst. Like someone said it took a loooong time (well, longer than average) for them to deliver the applicant's passport. The two weeks between Dec 25 and Jan 7 seemed to be a vacation for the embassy staff. And that actually makes sense, it even says on the web site, that all Ukrainian AND American national holidays the embassy is closed.

So Brad, you might get lucky and have the interview before the 16th, but I don't think she will receive the passport on time. If I were you, I would make an appointment ASAP and then re-schedule ur flight, so that you arrive a day or two before the interview.

BTW, we got approved too the other day, so maybe Vika and I happen to have the interview on the same day ;-)

What you fail to understand is that the consulate celebrates BOTH countries holidays... Since MLK is a US holiday, it will be recognized

You ARE right. My bad. I've condradicted myself saying they celebrate both and saying we don't have MLK's day. Lol

Thanks for the suggestion. We still aren't in the embassy computer though

[RyDa 1]

Thanks for the suggestion. We still aren't in the embassy computer though

Thats a little odd... My friend who got approved at VSC on Nov 10th, wrote to the embassy (Kiev as well) to see if they have her case yet, but they said that they have it uploaded in the system, but do not have the packet itself just yet.

Confused

[Brad and Vika 129]

Thanks for the suggestion. We still aren't in the embassy computer though

Thats a little odd... My friend who got approved at VSC on Nov 10th, wrote to the embassy (Kiev as well) to see if they have her case yet, but they said that they have it uploaded in the system, but do not have the packet itself just yet.

Confused

I don't know - the operator told Vika that she would send an inquiry, and she should call again in a week. Then she what is apparently a CYA timeline of up to two months for a case to be interview ready.